PM2.5 stands for particulate matter 2.5 microns or smaller. These particles are 30 times thinner than a human hair and come from car exhaust, power plants, wildfires, and burning fuel. They are small enough to bypass your body's natural defenses and enter your bloodstream.

How does air pollution affect the body?

Air pollution affects virtually every organ in the body. PM2.5 particles enter your lungs, pass into your bloodstream, and travel to your heart, brain, kidneys, liver, and other organs. This causes chronic inflammation, increasing risks of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, dementia, and many other conditions.

How many people are affected by air pollution?

99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds WHO safety guidelines. Air pollution kills approximately 8 million people every year—more than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined.

Samoa's Tuamasaga Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Tuamasaga

Tuamasaga faces significant air pollution challenges. 0% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 95 thousand across 9 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 1.4µg/m³. That's 0.3 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 23 cigarettes in a year.

Trends

Air Quality Trend

Annual PM2.5 levels from 2014 to 2023. The WHO guideline for safe air is 5 µg/m³.

Health Impact

Life Expectancy Impact

If Tuamasaga met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0 years longer.

That's 0 years of life stolen from 95 thousand people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.

Lives cut short. Breathing kills.

Most Polluted

Districts with Highest Pollution

The top 9 most polluted districts in Tuamasaga. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Vaimauga East
0 years lost
2.Faleata West
0 years lost
3.Gaga'emauga I
0 years lost
4.Sagaga le Falefa
0 years lost
5.Vaimauga West
0 years lost
6.Faleata East
0 years lost
7.Sagaga Le Usoga
0 years lost
8.Safata
0 years lost
9.Siumu
0 years lost

Exposure

Population Exposure by Pollution Level

Distribution of population across different PM2.5 pollution levels. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³—only populations below this threshold are breathing safe air.

< 5 µg/m³

100%

95K

5-10 µg/m³

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 9 Districts in Tuamasaga

Complete air quality data for every district in Tuamasaga, sorted by population.

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³
Faleata West	26K	1.4
Vaimauga West	21K	1.4
Sagaga le Falefa	13K	1.4
Faleata East	12K	1.4
Vaimauga East	8K	1.4
Sagaga Le Usoga	6K	1.4
Safata	6K	1.3
Siumu	2K	1.3
Gaga'emauga I	424	1.4

Showing 9 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Tuamasaga is Injurious to Health.